A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Obscur(e, -scuir(e, v. P.p. obscurit etc., also -ate. [Late ME. and e.m.E. obscure (15th c.), L. obscūrāre, F. obscurer. Cf. also Oscure.]
1. tr. To involve in darkness, darken, dim.1456 Hay I. 26/14.
The aire was all oure blakenyt and obscurit with the reik c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxii. 84.
The sone obscurit of his licht 1533 Boece vii. vii. 234 b.
The … lift was obscurit Ib. viii. vii. 263 b.
Myst obscuring the aire sa thik that [etc.] 1528 Lynd. Dreme 98. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 395.
Except four houris the sone is obscurate 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 39.
Why may … not [the devil] … thicken & obscure so the air
b. intr. To be darkened or dimmed.1531 Bell. Boece I. v.
Quhen sterris small obscuris in our sicht
2. tr. To dim or lessen the lustre or glory of, to involve in spiritual darkness.1533 Boece vi. xv. 216 b.
Na thing mycht mare obscure the Romane glore as [etc.] Ib. ix. viii. 305 b.
The rymes and geistis feneȝeit of Arthure and his knichtis … filis and obscuris mekill the fame of thir nobill men a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 135/12.
They obscure, hyid and diminucis the most vonderfull vorke of almychty God 1562-3 Winȝet I. 5/22.
Quhat part of the trew religion be ȝour sleuthful dominion and princelie estait is not corruptit or obscurit? 1558-66 Knox I. 45. c1590 Fowler II. 41/7. Ib. 40/23.
The Kirk of God may be … obscured by the darknes and clouds of superstitious errours 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 373.
This humane wisdome and the glory of this warld … obscuris this hevinlie glorie
3. a. To conceal from knowledge, ‘keep dark’, keep secret, suppress (a fact or the like).(1) 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 219.
Itt [sc. God's word] suld nocht be hid nor obscurit a1578 Pitsc. I. 42/30. Ib. 104/10.
I wald nocht that ȝe … sould obscuire nor bleak the honourabill factes of martiall deidis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 33.
Quhilk barne was obscurit and murtheret as appeiris be thame 1592–3 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 39. 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 109.
Quhen the said Margerat wes begottin with chyld, the said Helen convoyit hir away … to obscuir the fact 1609 Crim. Trials III. 16.
It may be ȝour lo. think it streng thatt I obscuirid my intencioun of braiking ward fra your lo. 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i. 152.
A crocodoilwith tears obscuiring treassoune 1641 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 263.
Fyve hundrethe merkis mortifiet … be ane neighbour of the toune whae obscuirit his name(2) 1600 Acts IV. 209/2.
My lord obscurit altogidder that he knew the cumming of ony man
b. To conceal, keep hidden (something material).1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 161.
Thow gave … ten merkis to the clerkis … to obscure the said dittey c1650 Spalding I. 294.
That none [sc. weapons] sould be obscuirit
c. reflex. Of persons: To conceal (oneself), hide.1660 Wodrow Hist. (1721) I. 6.
He being withdrawn and obscuring himself 1701 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 194.
The said Donald McGown … is a notorious thief … obscuring and darning himself and joyning himself to other rogues and villanes
d. To obscure oneself from (someone), to render one's meaning obscure to (someone).1584 in Spotsw. Hist. 331.
He at first obscured himself from me and would not be plain
